Swimming pool barrier guidelines were developed to keep young children safe. Constructing this barrier around your pool allows for more safely controlled access to the pool area. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has released a brochure that explains the safety concerns in more depth. Their publication can be found here. The main idea behind these guidelines is to prevent a child from accessing the pool without supervision. A child should not be able to climb over, crawl under, or pass through the barrier without the assistance of an adult. This is done by minimizing gaps or possible climbing handles in the fence, as well as ensuring the gate is effective. The basic guidelines for pool code fencing include: